MADISON, Wis. (WKOW) — About 26,000 students returned to Madison Metropolitan School District classrooms Wednesday as Superintendent Dr. Joe Gothard and staff look ahead to the new school year.

More than 3,400 students participated in summer programs, and Gothard said MMSD is setting high expectations for achievement in the year ahead.

“We also had a record number of students participate and succeed in advanced placement last spring, so we feel that’s a really nice way for us to catapult, and jump into this school year,” Gothard said. “Students feel engaged, challenged, supported — and that’s truly what we want to embrace at MMSD.”

Keeping students engaged is also part of the district’s strategy to combat chronic absenteeism. Gothard said 71% of MMSD students attended at least 90% of sc

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